Deacon’s Newsletter
Please read the latest from Deacon Jeannie on the ministry work she is currently leading:
Greetings Friends in Christ!
Below is a summary of the ministry work I am involved with, encouraging you to join in as well.
Upcoming: Bishop Gutierrez has assigned deacons in the Diocese of Pennsylvania to expand on ministries in service to the poorest in our midst. We’ve identified the following groups that we are already in partnership with who could use additional congregational support: Jenkintown Food Cupboard—need volunteers at both their pantry site and to deliver food to people who cannot drive to their site; Caring For Friends Network is looking for additional community partners to pack up meals that can be frozen and then delivered to homebound neighbors, mainly veterans and seniors; Pennypack Farm is looking for volunteers in a variety of capacities (they help in effort against food insecurity, especially where it intersects with access to fresh produce. They are partners with Jenkintown Food Cupboard.) There will be a flyer within the next few weeks providing details for these opportunities
St. Stephen’s Ministry, Philadelphia, PA. Deacons across our Diocese both run and support the ministry work there that serve people who are un-homed, families of patients at Thomas Jefferson Hospital, along with artists and performing artists including The Lantern Theatre Company. In the nave of both Holy Nativity and St. Paul’s Elkins Park church are bins with a list taped to the top outlining specific needs for the people St. Stephen’s serves. The easiest way to help is to pick an item on the list and sponsor it for a time. Please consider small, trial-sized products that are easy to tote. If you travel, please save for us the hotel-sized bath products as these are ideal for use. Merchants who offer “buy-one, get-one free” sales provide great ways to help: buy one for yourself and donate the other to St. Stephen’s. For clothing: please ensure all clothing items are washed and folded before putting them into the bin; this makes it much easier for the volunteer staff at St. Stephen’s to stack and store. I will ensure to make at least a monthly trip downtown to get it in their pantry.
Bright Lights Hats and Mittens Ministry. Calling all knitters and crocheters! Last December, I heard a woman tell her story on NPR, a woman who had a life on the street. One Christmas Eve she was gifted, a brightly-colored hat and mitten set after a Christmas Eve service and meal. She told me how much that meant to her, that she had such a beautiful, special item, hand-made, unlike the typical dull brown and gray items that generally came her way. She felt loved and seen, and warmed. This ministry honors that woman and her story. Any pattern you choose is fine, as long as the colors are bright and cheery. Stripes are also great!
Please reach out to me directly with questions: 856-217-5100 (text or call) or email greenjeangardens@me.com
Thank you so much, Rev. Jeannie Sachs, Deacon
Prayer Shawl Knitting Group
2nd Saturday every month at 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
All ages are welcome and the group loves to teach beginners how to knit! All completed prayer shawls are blessed through the hands of the entire congregation on Sundays at the Lord’s Supper. They are then available for anyone to take and give to anyone needing comfort and healing. This is an amazing ministry that changes lives and heals souls, and at the same time is a fun and happy fellowship for all!
Schatz-St. Paul’s Community Farm
Tuesdays and Thursday from 4-6 p.m. All are welcome to a garden plot at the new Schatz-St. Paul’s Community Farm! Contact Adrienne Redd at 215-645-2686 for more information.
The Schatz-St. Paul’s Community Farm is an enterprise of the www.BellIndependenceProj.org, offering hands-on instruction in household repairs, cooking, gardening, and more. The non-profit status or 501(c)3 of the Bell Independence Project falls under The Everywhere Project, an anti-hunger and harm reduction program that has been serving people at risk in Philadelphia for over two decades.
The vision of the farm is to teach the public, particularly young people, how to grow food, to promote awareness of local and wild food sources in the greater Philadelphia region (such as maples and maple sugaring), and to provide food, free of charge or residency requirements/administrative burdens to the congregation of Saint Paul’s, clients of the Jenkintown Food Cupboard, those served by the Everywhere Project, and anyone else who wants to volunteer, learn, and/or receive vegetables and other products of the program.
Prayer Band
Every other Monday at 6 p.m. on Zoom (link available on church calendar)
St. Paul’s prayer band has met faithfully for over ten years to pray for the needs of our church, families, and community. All are welcome!
Jenkintown Food Cupboard
Dropoff every Sunday
St. Paul’s maintains a weekly collection of non-perishable items for the Jenkintown Food Cupboard. JFC is a community-focused food insecurity organization, working to create accessible, stigma-free spaces for our neighbors to receive the food and nutritional resources they need and deserve.